Donald Trump: The growing boycott of the State of the Union shows he is in full-blown PANIC!! Over 20 members of Congress won’t attend, leaving him with EMPTY SEATS!! This is a sign that America is rejecting his toxic reign!! Raise your hand if you want to see him IMPEACHED 🤚

The atmosphere inside the Capitol felt tense long before the cameras turned on.

As staff prepared the chamber for the annual State of the Union, rows of polished wooden desks that are usually filled shoulder-to-shoulder with lawmakers sat noticeably bare. Nameplates remained, but the seats behind them were empty — a quiet, visual protest that spoke louder than any speech.
At the center of the storm stood Donald Trump.
In the days leading up to the address, more than twenty members of the United States Congress publicly announced they would boycott the speech. Some cited what they called divisive rhetoric. Others pointed to controversial policies and ongoing investigations. A few said simply that attending would feel like “endorsing chaos.”
By late afternoon, the hashtag “EmptySeats” was trending.
Inside the United States Capitol, aides counted attendance lists with growing concern. Television producers quietly adjusted camera angles to avoid showing the gaps.
“It’s symbolic,” one staffer whispered. “But symbols matter.”

For presidents, the State of the Union is usually a show of strength — applause lines, standing ovations, party unity. This time, the optics told a different story. Entire sections looked thin. Applause sounded scattered rather than thunderous.
Opponents said the boycott reflected deeper frustration across the country. They described it as a rejection of what they viewed as combative leadership and escalating political tension. Supporters, meanwhile, dismissed the protest as “theatrics” and insisted the president remained firmly backed by his base.